Worst. Cliffhanger. Ever.

[shada pavlova]

In the classic series, some of the cliffhangers were really, to be blunt, rubbish.

What do you think is the WORST cliffhanger ever?

[Paul Clement]

The Dragonfire cliffhanger with the Doctor climbing over the rail makes no sense so would probably get my vote. I know there was a technical reason why this one fails, and that there should have been a ledge he was climbing down to, but as it is, it looks stupid.

[shada pavlova]

Oh, well I never saw Dragonfire.

[SiHart]

Battlefield pt 1's "Kill them. Kill them now" is pretty awful.

So xx

[SiHart]

I don't mind any of the ones you've chosen, although Death to the Daleks pt 3 is pretty ropey. I'll go for that.

Si xx

[Paul Clement]

Considering the choices you've given, I'd go with none of the above. None are that bad. In fact, I like Horror of Fang Rocks part 1 cliffhanger.

[shada pavlova]

Yeah. I mean, what's so scary and suspenseful about a chequered floor?

[Pip Madeley]

I went for Death too, although the rest are fine - I really like the end of Talons #4, it sets everything up nicely for the last two episodes...

[Larry]

Yeah. I mean, what's so scary and suspenseful about a chequered floor?

just about sums up how awful the story.

[Andrew Curnow]

When I was a kid, I thought Talons #4 was the end of the story (I wasn't even 6 at the time, so I guess it was the first six-parter I would have seen) and vividly remember thinking, "What a weird ending to a story."

Anyway, of the above I think I'm going to have to go with the general consensus and vote for Death to the Daleks 3. Although Greatest Show 1's is probably at least as lame.

[Si Hunt]

What the heck happens at the end of part five of "Evil of the Daleks"?

My personal least favourite is "Greatest Show In The Galaxy" Episode 1. Not because it's not especially dramatic - will they walk into a tent or not? - but because, uniquely, the Doctor is actually being a total git. Goading his companion into danger by taunting her for being scared! I mean, WTF?! Who took their eye off the ball there then?

Si.

[Rob McCow]

I think Part 5 of Evil is when Maxtible comes into the study and exclaims - 'A most amusing little game, don't you think Jamie?!' We have to wait a whole week to find the answer to that little poser!

I'd like to nominate five cliffhangers - Frontier in Space parts 2-5. Oh gawd, they've been captured AGAIN!

[Dirk Gently]

Dragonfire (although I like the story) one mentioned is quite bad & the Greatest show one too.

But from that list, none of the above.

[Si Hunt]

"Trial" Episode 1 is a bit of a lame duck. The Doctor is being pelted by stones - but we know he's safe, because he's sitting in a comfy chair watching it.

"Frontier In Space" Episode 4 features the dramatic reveal of an Ogron's back inside a spaceship. Ooh, scary.

Si.

[WhiteCrow]

Battlefield pt 1's "Kill them. Kill them now" is pretty awful.

So xx

Is that the one which goes "kill them all", followed by "no don't"?

[Si Hunt]

No. As I recall Ancelyn gets them out of it by drawing Mordred's attention to the fact that the Doctors a dead-ringer for their old foe Merlin.

Si.

[SiHart]

"Remember Badon and his mighty arse"
That was enough to get them out of it.

Si xx

[WhiteCrow]

No. As I recall Ancelyn gets them out of it by drawing Mordred's attention to the fact that the Doctors a dead-ringer for their old foe Merlin.

Si.

See it's hard to remember, I've not watched it since original screening, and the story came in for mercyless ribbing from the Sheffield University Science Fiction and Fantasy group "in the retelling".

[Stuart Wallis]

And what about invasion of The Dinosaurs episode one - attacked by the Chewit monster, repeated twice more later in the story.

[shada pavlova]

Well, that was quite good & suspenseful on first broadcast.

[Pip Madeley]

Well, that was quite good & suspenseful on first broadcast.

Aren't you 14?

[shada pavlova]

NO! How dare you?!

I watched it on youtube.

[Rob McCow]

Worst - cliffhanger - ever...

That one that was just on TV?

[Pip Madeley]

NO! How dare you?!

I watched it on youtube.

Oh, sorry, 16. Ah well, close.

[Jason Thompson]

I actually will defend Death To The Daleks part 3, because it's a sudden 'stop, don't move', then crash into the credits. It does what a cliffhanger is supposed to do: leaves you wondering what's happening and what's coming next. Why did the Doctor stop because of a pattern on the floor? That's the point, and if that question is in your mind next week then the cliffhanger is successful. Again with Evil episode 5: the Daleks are playing a game! What the-?

The new series has made cliffhangers into a cut and paste, 'put-someone-in-mortal-danger-and-the-worse-you-can-make-the-situation-the-better', but in the context of a series where every episode (almost) had a cliffhanger that would get tired quickly. All it has to do is leave you wondering what happens next. On that score I'd say all the ones listed work. most of the ones that fail do so for technical reasons, IMO, such as the Dragonfire part 1, where a failure to make the ledge appear at all just makes it look like he's dangling from the edge for no reason.

One of the worst, however, for me, is Trial part 2, where the Doctor is stuck between some primitives with spears and a not very threatening looking robot, then says in an overdramatic tone 'I really think this could be the end'. What?! It's only episode 2, so we all know it isn't the end, and why not surrender and try to find an escape plan later, as he would normally do if totally cornered?